Musharraf not in favour of dissolving Assemblies

Islamabad, Aug 10 (ANI): Sources close to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf have said that he will not use Article 58(2b) (related to dissolving the Assemblies), and will wait for the ruling coalitions charge-sheet against him before deciding his future course of action.

According to these sources, the President said this at a meeting with PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. On the occasion, the latter asked the President to avoid using Article 58(2b) to dissolve the Assemblies and to opt for resignation if he did not want to face the charges.

The President said that the PPP should avoid politics of confrontation, and should adopt the way of reconciliation. The ruling parties should avoid politics of confrontation and concentrate on the challenges faced by the country. The government should take initiatives to provide relief to the people instead of increasing political tensions, Musharraf told Shujaat, reported the Daily Times.

Later, Shujaat told reporters that Musharraf had decided to face impeachment in accordance with the constitution but was waiting to see what charge sheet the ruling coalition was going to frame.

Sources also said Musharraf accused former premier Nawaz Sharif of indulging in politics of revenge.

Meanwhile, the erstwhile ruling party the PML-Qs Secretary General Mushahid Hussain also said that Musharraf will not resort to the option of invoking the notorious Article 58 (2b) as, according to him, the people, the establishment and political forces will not support any move to dissolve the assemblies. The President has only two options face impeachment or resign, said Mushahid.

According to the paper, the President last evening summoned former federal minister Sher Afgan Niazi to Islamabad to discuss the constitutional and legal aspects of the impeachment and to represent him in the Assembly. Besides, Constitutional expert Senator SM Zafar also called on Musharraf to discuss with him constitutional methods of dealing with impeachment. (ANI)